Dec. 31, 2008 — Campbell "King Kan Fuc Plentae" Barnes upset reigning monarch and five-time champion Morris "King Generic" Benjamin to become the St. Croix Calypso Monarch 2008-9, in a hotly contested musical variety extravaganza at Island Center Tuesday.
For his first song, Barnes emerged from a trunk in the middle of the stage, dressed in a skull mask and death's robe, pulling them off to reveal a bright red suit to sing "I'm Still Alive," a personal song of perseverance poking friendly fun at his competition and vowing to keep singing calypso for years.
"The true calypsonian must shine a light in the dark," he sang, holding a lamp. "As long as I can still croon I am not retiring anytime soon."
His second song, "Talking Straight," commented on the state of the Virgin Islands, linking it to the global history of colonialism and slavery, emancipation, worker's struggles and pointing to the election of Barack Obama as a sign of progress and hope.
Before the competition began, alternates Elvis "Tumba" Liburd and Joseph "Joey B" Brown opened up with two numbers and between sets, MCs Daren "MC Bogle" and Hulester "Bad Company" Russell kept the crowd in stitches, making fun of each other and everyone else and telling a few racy jokes at their own expense.
Later, while the votes were being tallied, two visiting calypso greats made appearances: Scrunter, a three-time winner of the calypso crown in Dominica, and Sir Maclean "King Short Shirt" Emanuel, Antiguan winner of innumerable calypso crowns and father of soca.
Short Shirt got the crowd jumping, starting with a new tune about President Obama, then a short set of some of his hits. People in the audience shouted to hear his '70s hit "Tourist Leh Go" from the album Ghetto Vibes, and Short Shirt obliged. They return to the stage along with St. Croix's adult and junior king and queen of the bands in Frederiksted's festival park for Caribbean Night on New Year's Day.
King Generic was first runner-up, singing "Yes We are Ready," another paean to Obama. Taking the stage in a suit in the colors of the U.S. flag, he marched out while the drummer beat a military tune, sliding into calypso rhythms as King Generic began to croon.
"Black people are you ready?" he sang. "Yes, we're ready," the backup singers responded.
"Hurricane," was his second contribution, comparing the damage done to the islands by hurricanes to the devastation caused by manmade problems, like the cost of energy, the problems of education, political scandals and economic crises.
Samuel "Mighty Pat" Ferdinand was second runner-up, singing "Obama Rock" and "What LEAC Stands For," a song about high energy prices and the hated Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause, the section of local utility bills itemizing the cost of fuel oil used to generate power.
"You put one paycheck and put the next paycheck and still you can't pay off all your debts," he sang while helpers tossed anti-LEAC T-shirts into the audience.
"What LEAC stands for nobody knew," sang Mighty Pat, "so I asked the children, they say it means Lose Everything and Cry."
Kasaun "K-Force" Baptiste won Most Humorous Calypsonian, Emanuel "Prince Emanuel" Henry won Most Improved Calypsonian and King Kan had a twofer, winning "Best Social Commentary as well as Calypso Monarch.
All the performers were backed by St. Croix's own Xpress band, joined by several backup singers and a horn section calling itself International Horns.
Before the competition began, alternates Elvis "Tumba" Liburd and Joseph "Joey B" Brown opened up with two numbers.
"When I lay down to sleep at night, I know everything is going to be alright," Tumba sang from his spiritual tune "It's You." "And when I get up to work all day, It's you that guides my way."
Joey B's song "What You Sow" was about using love to fight the violence plaguing the streets.
"With love and compassion and purity of intention, through all this journey we will see things through," sang Joey B. "Whatever you reap, it's that you sow."
Between sets, MCs Daren "MC Bogle" and Hulester "Bad Company" Russell kept the crowd in stitches, poking fun at each other and everyone else and telling a few racy jokes at their own expense.
And while the votes were being tallied, two visiting Calypso greats; Scrunter, a three-time winner of the calypso crown in Dominica, and Sir Maclean "King Short Shirt" Emanuel, Antiguan winner of innumerable calypso crowns and father of soca, Go to www.stxfestival.com
for complete schedule, photos, music samples, and all manner of information about this year's festival.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
